Ship fender



Feb.s,1949. z. BWASSON f 2,460,913

SHIP FENDER v Filed Jan. 22, 194e I 2 sneeis-sheet i /0 v/5` /4 y l 33 35 Inventor /4 l1! ,4 /2 5 `2440/( B. WASSO/V /5 A ,Y B) f @d/W w Feb. s, 1949. Z, B, WASSO'N 2,460,913

SHIP FENDER F11/6d Jan. 22, 194

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3.9 l, /0 M) /4 f l 40 l 2/ /Z 2a @f4 27 /3 /9 25 f /l l *7' Il 40 /l 39 /3 4o l2 /4 1 Inventor 39 ZAC/f B. WASSON Patented Feb. 8, 1949 I TED S TAT ES PATENT FFIE SHIP FENDER l Zack B. Wasson, Dallas, Tex.

Application January 22, 1946, Serial No. ,642,639

VThis invention relates to a ship fender or bumper which has many advantages over the ordinary cane fender in vthat it can be disassembled vand stored 'ina small space, is fireproof, can be readily replaced and 'colored as desired, as well 'as Amore efficiently absorbing the vshock caused by 'ships bumping into each other or to a dock, `when moored together or to a dock or wharf.Y

Another object of the invention is to provide a ships fender vwhich simulates a spider, and which `involves spring elements designed to cushion the engagement of one ship against another ora dock or wharf in bumping into each other when moored together or to a dock, and which will 'efficiently absorb the shock thereof as well as permitting the same to be readily swung over theside of arship by means of a line from the deck or otherwise.

` ,Other objects anda-dvantages reside in the detailsof construction and 'operation'as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference beingfhad to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

VFigure 1 is a front elevation of a ships fender `cfc'nistructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof shown mounted for use between two ships when moored together. Y v Figure 3V is a sectional view taken o n the line 3 3 of Figure 1.

VFigure 4 is an inside elevation with parts omitted.

VFigure 5 is an enlarged view in perspective of a top cover plate and cushioning anchor member, and

AFigure 6 is a perspective view of a spring supporting plate.

Referring to the drawings in detail, in which like reference characters designate corresponding 'parts throughout the several views, my ship or spider fender is shown as comprising a plurality of intersecting diametrical leaf springs I0, of curved formation, consisting of a top leaf I'I, an intermediate leaf I2 longer than the top leaf IIfan'd a bottom leaf I3 which is longer than the le'af 'I2intermediate of theleaves `II and I3. These leaves .are formed of `flat spring material similar `to `a spring on an automobile or other 6 Claims. (Cl. 2114-2199 temper and tension.

vehicle 'and 'of proper Width and 'thickness yto 'be determine-d according 'to the 4weight 'to vbe resisted and usually made of spring l,steel of proper The ends are disposed in stepped relation, andthe extremities of the 4bottom leaf I3 Yare formed withV curved -for arcuate portions M having loops or eyes i5' inwardly Iof the eXtrem-ities thereof on top. That is, these loopsare Vdisposed on. the 'outside at the point where the spring lleaves I3 are bent to form kthe curvedA ends M. Interme'diately, the several springsgsuch kas three, cross "one Aanother in int'er- Y secting spaced divergent relationA substantially apart, although they may `be otherwise related, thus 'forming a structure of substantially circular or hexagonal formation. Obviously, any number vof springs may 'be employed intersecting eachother as described and provided with intermediate 4apertures I6 y'by which the springs are mounted upon a common retaining shank or bolt Il forming a `central pivot member therefor. The bolt is mounted upon a top Aplate or cover I8 which 'may have -a rubber -or other cushion bumper fis providedV thereon and the opposite end of the bolt, which is provided with a head plate El) welded to plate IB, receives a telescopic spring support plate 21Iwhi-ch like the plates I8 and 2'0 is of circular formation. The vplate 2| is provided with an offset frusto-'coni'cal 'depressed portion "22 and a plurality of vspaced concentrically related openings 23 vdesigned to 'receive threaded studs, Vsh'anks or bolts '2t anchor-edrto and 'extending Vfrom the plate I8 to vclamp the several sets of springs in position by means of nuts or other clamping ydevices vv25 rmounted on the ends of the bolts or studs 24. The depressed portion 22 of the plate 2l `is provided with a central opening 26 to receive the vthreaded shank or 'bolt I'l which is held by a lnut 2l 'and serves to mount 'a' ing injury. The eyes or loops I5 may be welded or `otherwise secured in position and are designed to slidably receive a wire or cable 29, which is stretched between the various springs held in the relation specied if desired, between the bolts, studs or threaded shanks 24 in addition to being mounted centrally upon the bolt I1. Diametrically opposite sides of the fender are provided with spring connections 3IJ between certain end portions or intermediate portions of the cable or wire 29, being connected thereto at the ends oi the springs and eyes 3l engaging apertured ears 32 of clamps 33 which are split and adapted to be clamped by means of bolts or screws 34 entering apertured ears 35 in the jaws of the clamps through which the wire or cable 29V extends in the manner shown in Figure 1 of the drawings so as to pass through openings at 36 in the inner sides of the clamp jaws adjacent to the eyes or ears 32. This leaves a portion or portions oi the cable 29 loose between each pair of clamps 33 to permit springs 30 as indicated at 31, in order to take up slack or looseness therein, so as to maintain the cable taut in the normal position of the device and of the springs, but to allow expansion thereof upon pressure being exerted against the fender at the bumper I9 forming a cushion, when the ships strike against eachother and the device is disposed against the side Aof the ship or hull, in the manner shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. The device may be suspended from three cables 38, which are fastened to loops 39 pivoted in straps or loops 69 secured to the inner faces of the spring leaves I3 by welding or otherwise, so that the loops 39 may pivot therein intermediate the arms of the springs from the bolts II Iand 24 outwardly thereof to the free ends oi said spring leaves. In this manner, the device may be readily hung over the side of the ship for use and may be placed at the desired height by suitable means on. deck. The spring 28 will therefore engage the hull andlretain the device in position in conjunction with springs I0 and also resist compression under the bumping action between the ships. Thus, the springs 39 will serve to limit the slack between the portions of the cables which are connected to the spring leaves I3 of springs I9 near their extremities, and maintain the same taut, so that as the springs 3U are expanded or stretched, the slack will be paid out to limit the slack-in the cable and'takethe strain as well as to stop'the compression of the fender. It should also be noted that Ythe cables 38 are attached to the uppeiends of the leaves I3 of the springs it) and the central cable attached to the highest or top leaf and the other two cables 38 attached at each side thereof to hold the fender in place fore and aft at the desired place and height in conjunction with the central cable which acts as a guide line so that the weight is supported at the top and placed at the center of gravity. Any number of such cables and loops or eyes 39 may be provided to hold the fender in place fore and aft. Also, suitable power means may be provided connected to the cables 38 in order to raise and lower the fender, such as a winch. Also, the cable 29 and springs 30 may be omitted if desired, especially where the ships are not large and heavy. The height of the fender from foot to top of the cushion, should be about 48 to 60 inches for a-large ship but the size thereof will be determined by the size of the ship on which it is to be used, which will also determine the height or size and tension of the spring and leaves.

. The device will have a great advantage over the cane fender, as it can be readily disassembled and stored in a small place, is reproof, can be readily replaced as to any part which may be in a state of disrepair, and may be painted and colored to agree with the color of the ship.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and the scope of the appended claims. What I claim is:

1. A ships fender comprising a plurality of intersecting arcuate spring members, tensioning means connecting the end portions of said members, and means for intermediately connecting said members.

2. A ships fender comprising a plurality of centrally intersecting spring members, means centrally connecting said members, said spring members being of arcuate formation, a cushioning spring projecting lcentrally at the concaved side of said members, and means for bracing said members in spaced divergent relation. Y 3. A ships fender comprising'a plurality of intersecting leaf spring members, and means for connecting said members intermediately in xed divergent relation, said spring members being of arcuate formation, and extensible tension means movably connecting the ends of said spring members.

4. A ships fender comprising a plurality of intersecting spring members, and means for con,- necting said members, said spring members being of arcuate formation and resilient means in the form of a cable and springs connecting the ends of said spring members.

5. A ships fender comprising a plurality of intersecting leaf spring members, means for intermediately connecting said members, said spring members being of arcuate formation, clamping means between the members for holding said members in spaced divergent relation, said springs having leaves and curved seat portions at their ends, a central bumper at the convex side, a central cushioning member projecting from the concaved side, and means for suspending the fender over a ships side in an upright position from certain of said spring members and for anchoring the same fore and aft.

6. A ships fender comprising a plurality of arcuate spring members each comprising a plurality of leaf springs, means centrally connecting said springs in spaced divergent relation, inner and outer plates disposed centrally at the convex and concaved sides of the springs, connections between said plates extending between the springs to equidistantly space the same, a cushioning-member on the plate at the convex side, a cushioning spring anchored to the con.- necting means at the concaved side and projecting therefrom to the plane of the ends of the springs, with reference to their extent of curvatureat-the lconcaved side, the extremities of the springs being curved to present the convex sides thereof toward a ships hull, guides mounted on the concaved sides of said ends, a cablevmovably extending through said guides, springs interposed in said cable for Ataking up slack therein, loops 5 6 carried by adjacent portions of three springs and y REFERENCES CITED cables connected to said loops to suspend the de- Y vice in upright position against the side of a, I11u11 The VOllOWIlg lefeBIlCeS 21S 0f TGCOIQ in the from the central loop and to anchor the same le 0f this Patenti n fore and aft at the proper place and height at 5 Y UNITED STATES PATENTS the side of the hull from the deck of the ship. y

y Number Nennev y Date 1 ZACK B WASSON, 1,623,888 APasini Apr-5, 1927 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date v54,328 France July 11, 1862 

